Natalie Coughlin - Olympic Champion
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Hey, remember when I wrote about using the product iTrain to help you get in shape. You remember that this is downloadable MP3 files that give you a personal trainer that brings you through a great workout. Well, one of the trainers that you can use for this is none other than Natalie Coughlin herself. Now I’m not saying that you too can be an Olympic champion, but she did pretty good.
Natalie Coughlin
Here’s her accomplishments for the 2008 Olympics:
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2008 Summer Olympics Events |
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Medal count: 6 (1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze) |
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| Date | Event | Final Time |
Place |
| August 10 | 4×100 m Freestyle Relay | 3:34.33 |
2nd |
| August 12 | 100 m Backstroke | 58.96 |
1st |
| August 13 | 200 m Individual Medley | 2:10.34 |
3rd |
| August 14 | 4×200 m Freestyle Relay | 7:46.33 |
3rd |
| August 15 | 100 m Freestyle | 53.39 |
3rd |
| August 17 | 4×100 m Medley Relay | 3:53.30 |
2nd |
You can get your own personal trainer to help you with your Olympic dreams too or then again, maybe just lose some weight. Check out iTrain.com for some of the best programs for an MP3 player.
| 2.5 |
iTrain - An easy way to lose the fat
ITrain has to be the easiest way to exercise with the use of an iPod and personal trainer. I started to get back in shape (of course my wife told me I already was in shape, round) around November. Terrible time to try and lose weight since holiday time was here with all the meals and extras, like candy platters, office parties and going to relative’s homes. I wasn’t going to be swayed this year and had a treadmill that was gathering dust. I pulled it out and starting to use it, but found that I got bored in about 2 days. I needed something to listen to since this would make the workout go faster and I wouldn’t be staring at the time I was going by so slow.
I started to search the internet for songs that I could have an easy beat to get into a rhythm while I pumped my legs. I found some songs, but they were not so great since many were just things thrown together with no purpose. I looked at dance or disco tunes since I thought the beat would help, but these didn’t do it for me either. Then I started to see some ads for iTrain. I had questions as to what this was all about and here are the answers:
What is this iTrain that everyone is talking about? iTrain is an entire compilation of MP3 music that when followed will help anyone from beginner to expert with a workout routine. If you’re doing an exercise program you will enjoy the fact that an expert in exercise along with some great songs will help you with your workout.
How does it work? The process is very simple since all you do is sign up on their website, choose the product that you’d like and then download it to your MP3 player. Turn on your player and get set for a complete workout from warm up to stretching.
Who is this program really for? It is for anyone that wants to lose weight and get fit. Teens as well as senior citizens can use this program as long as you know how to use an iPod or any other player.
How much does it cost? Well it can be as little as $0.99 for a single workout (most are around $10.00) with an A La Carte or you can get monthly or year plans for more based upon what you want to do.
All of those sounded pretty easy to follow so I signed up for a program and purchased some A La Carte workouts specifically for the treadmill. The download was very easy here’s the best part, if you lose the workout you can go back and re-download as it keeps track of you purchase. I dropped the workouts into my iPod and got the treadmill out and turned it on. Immediately the music starts and Grace Lazenby comes on like a personal trainer and puts you through a very energetic exercise for the treadmill. She has you speed up, slow down and climb hills and before you know it over 40 minutes have gone by. The programs will work for anyone at home or in a gym. I brought my iPod to the last trip I was on and got a Grace Lazenby workout while on a treadmill in my hotel.
You really can’t go wrong with this company. The music and coaching is great and the cost is little to the workout you get. Oh and how am I doing since I got this last November? I’ve been able to drop 40 pounds just by hitting the treadmill 5 times a week.
| 2.5 |
Treadmill Walking Exercise Routine
The ability to lose weight with a treadmill is not just for those individuals you see in a club running full speed until they can hardly breathe. It also works for those of us that go a little slower too. For those of us at a certain age; the pounding on the knees would be too much to take and going full speed would just be showing off. The belt on the treadmill doesn’t care who gets on or what speed you go; so weight loss can be work for anyone. I’ve loss 30 pounds since November and haven’t jogged for a single day to achieve it.
To start a routine that can take the weight off, you’ll need to prepare yourself so that there is no injury or trouble and that you’ll have the ability to come back again tomorrow. Here are a few tips that can help:
- Wear comfortable clothes - The clothes that restrict movement or is so tight that it leave a ring around your midsection is no good. You’re at home and not seen by anyone so get a pair of sweat pants with a drawstring waist and make sure that it doesn’t hang over your shoes. This isn’t a fashion show so you need comfort, not style.
- Get a good pair of running shoes - I really mean running shoes and not walking shoes as they will be the lightest on your feet. Comfort here is also important as you don’t want something that will get hot or a shoe that will roll on you because of not side strength. Remember that you are walking on a continuous belt and that it keeps moving even if you don’t want it to.
- Start out slowly - Find a speed that fits your ability to walk without getting out of breath. I would suggest that you start out with a speed of 3 miles an hour. If you need to go a little slower you can or if you think this is too slow, bump it up a few miles an hour. (If your treadmill has weight loss or interval training as a built in program start in the lowest phase first.
- Keep daily track of your pace - Use a log to keep track of your workout. You’ll need to push yourself even in a walk to make sure that you do a minimum of 20 minutes. The more you do beyond 20 minutes will increase calorie burn and help with the weight loss.
- Set goals - Try to pump your speed up one or two miles an hour each week until you’re at a quick pace that challenges you. Next try to go beyond 20 minutes and aim for an hour or more of exercise. If you can follow this for 2 months I guarantee that you’ll lose weight if even if you continue to eat at the same pace you’re on now. (No guarantee if you increase your eating).
- Keep the same time of day - You will find that if you workout just before your evening meal that you will have more energy, a reduced appetite and feel better about yourself.
Using a treadmill doesn’t have to be a jog or even a full out run to get results. You can do this with shorter steps and a determined attitude. As a suggested bonus, I use itrain.com as music to help with the walk and as a motivation factor when doing an exercise workout.
| 2.5 |